Self-lubricating valve



Oct.- 2l, 1930.

F. N. BARD SELF LUBRICATING VALVE Filed Aug. 2o 1926 Patented oct.' 21, 1930 Immers Nonwoonnnnn, on HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS sELFLUBBIcA'rING VALVE v Application med August 20, 1926. Serial No. 130,385.

1 5 improved plug valve having improved meansfor lubricating the same; the provision lof a valve adapted toV conduct a lubricant and incorporatingrmeans in the valve structure for -conducting a lubricant to the moving parts 20 of the valve for facilitating movement of the valve on its seat; and the provision of a valve of the character referred to which is relatively simple in construction, that is, it in-` cludes a relatively limited number of mov-I 5 ing parts and one in which the conducting surface of the valve and seat are constantly supplied with a lubricant.

The foregoing and such .other objects and advantages as may appear orbe pointed out 30 as this description proceeds are attained in the structural movement illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: l

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a plug valve constructed i'n accordance with 5 this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 lookingvin the direction indicated by the arrows.

Y Figure 3 is a .transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 looking in the direction indicated by-'the arrows, and

Figure 4, is a composite view of alternative arrangementsof the grooves for conducting 5 lubricant. l

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, 5 designates the body of thei valve, in the present instance being provided with a transverse passageway formed by the ports E) 6 and 7 which are formed in the valve body and in lateral extensions 8 and 9, the latter being internally threaded, as shown in Figure 1, for connection to the opposite portions ing transversely of the axis of the ports 6` and 7.

' I find it convenient, in the present type of 69 valve, to introducelthe valve member 11 from one end of the valve, this valve member being complementally conical in shape s as to substantially coincide to the shape of lthe seat A10, the valve member .having a trans- 6 verse passageway 12 which: when brought into registrationwith the ports 6 and 7 will conduct fluid through the' valve. Thevalve member, as stated above, is i introduced through the lower openvend of the body v and, 70 this end is closed byl a .cap memberl having a threaded portion 14 engaging with threads 15 on theinner surface of the body adjacent the point at which said plug is inserted.

The valve is maintained against its seat by the provision of a helical spring 16 engaging a recess 17 in the cap 13 and also engaging a lug or projection 18 on the adjacent end of the valve member.

The valve member is provided with a valve stem 19 which projects beyond one end ofthe body 5 through an opening therein internally threaded as at 20 to receive a gland member 21`.V The gland-member 21 bears upon packing elements 22, 22 and these elements, in 85 turn, 'bear upon a spring member 23 which tends to balance the action of the spring 16 and while not forcing the valve 0H its seat, still 'serving to facilitate the rotation of the 9 valve on its seat.

The cap member 13 forms 'a pocket 24 ad jacent to the larger end of the valve member 11 and this pocket24 communicates, by means of a passageway 25, With the passageway 12 95 in the valve. The pocket 24 further communicates with the conical face 26 of the valve member 11 and with .the valve seat 10 by the provision of grooves 27 formed in the face of the valve, said grooves being' in- 100 terconnected by transverse passageways 28 the valve and prevent jamming of the same formed 1n the valve member 11 above and bein its seat d-ue to pressure in the pipe line.

low the passageway l2. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto The grooves 27 terminate short of the upsigned my name. 5 per end 29 of the valve member 1l but extend FRANCIS NORWOOD BARD. 70

entirely down to the lower yend 30 of the valve member so as to establish communication with the pocket 24.

In order to further facilitate communication of the valve face with the pocket 24, 75

auxiliary grooves 3l, 3l are provided.

It will be obvious (see Figure 4) that the grooves 27 may, if desired, be formed in the valve seat as well as in the valve member, and

it is pointed out that in some instances the 80 grooves may be made half in the valve seat and half inthe valve member.

In order to prevent the gland 21 from backing oil", a spring lock washer 21"L is interposed between said gland and adjacent 85 portion of the valve body 5. l l

The valve of this invention is employed in a pipe line conducting lubricating oil, grease or the like, in fact, any fluid which possesses lubricating properties or carries in it a lubri-- 90 cant: It will be understood that the lubricant flowing inthe valve will, in part, be conducted to the pocket 24 and under the pressure of the lubricant contained in the pipe line the lubricant in said pocket will be forced V95 upwardly through the grooves 27 and thus between the surface of the valve and the valve seat, thereby lubricating the same. In

additionto this function, the pressure of the lubricant in the pocket T24 will, in some de- 100 gree,`tend to force the valve against its seat and therefore, while still maintaining a volume of lubricant between the valve and its seat, cause the Valve to engage the seat with 110 suilicient pressure to prevent leakage. 105

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to' secure by Letters Patent is:

In a plug valve, a casing having a tapered valve seat provided with fluid passagewaysy 11o and a tapered plug member engaging said -seat and provided `with a hole adapted to register with said passageways2 said plug valve member having a stem proJecting from the smalli` end thereof, a chamber atvthe larger X end of said valve in communication -with the hole in said valve to permit fluid in t e pipe liIe. to enter beneath the larger endvof the* valve, a spring member tending to'hold said 120 valve' onits seat arranged in said-chamber, said stem with said smaller end of saidvalve forming an annular shoulder, a complemental shoulder on the valve casing, an annular l compression member having spaced yielding 125 5 chamber cooperating for tending t0 balance portions engaging said shoulders, a gland for applying pressure to -said compression member to tend to hold said valve off its seat, said compression member and said spring in said 

